Rack



Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY M. HAUN, OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNO'R OF TWO-FIFTHS T0 MARSHALL B. SARGENT, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND ONE-FIFTH TO EDGAR CORLETT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. y i

RACK.

Application filed August 14, 1923. Serial No, 657,329.

To all 10710771, i may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY M. HAUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Bernardino, in the county of San Bernardino, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates an improvement over my co-pending application for patent for racks, filed in the United States Patent Office March 24, 1923, Serial Num-` ber 627,375, and the invention has for an object the provision of a rack which presents while not in use a smooth flooring over which trucking may be accomplished, as well as a rack which when in operation is self-adjustable, so as to accommodate for various unevennesses of the main Hoor to which the rack is secured. y The rack is intended for use in box or refrigerator cars, boats, or in any place where a rack may be essential.

IVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and inter-relation of parts, ,members and features, yall as shown in one embodiment in the accompanying drawing, described generally, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a box car shown as incorporating the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the box car showing certain of the racks :in operative position and others in inoperative position, said view being taken on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing the rack members and the means for attaching certain units there-4 of together;

Figure et is a fragmentary Aperspective view of rack units and showing the operation of a hinge member between certain elements of such units; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale, showing the method of associating rack units between the doorways of the car shown in Figure 1.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularitytothe drawing, the box car is designated by A and a unit rack section by B, each unit comprising two members as a and hingedly associated by means c. Each member a and b has one edge thereof beveled, as shown at land 2 respectively, and the means c permits the member Z), which is movable relative to .the member a, tol swing upwardly upon the top surface of the member a and into the position as depicted by the dotted lines at 3 of Figure It is intended that the member a of such unit rack section B should be fastened by any suitable means to the floor or other object upon which it is intended that the rack should be incorporated. In the showing of the figures each unit rack section B has its member a secured to the floor lof the box car A. Likewise in the showing the vunits B extend longitudinally ofthe car as shown at 5 with certain of the sections:- B included between the doorway or doorways 6A and 7 of such car and the ends of such car, one of such ends being shown at 8, which is the bulk head of a refrigerator car. The rack on the opposite side of the doorway, as shown at 9, is likewise extended from such doorway to the opposite end of such car, such opposite end not being shown. The structure between the doorways 6 and 7 comprises units differently associated with the flooring, and such units will be. designated as B to distinguish them from the ordinary sections shown at 5 and 9. Unit rack sections B are laid upon the floor in what is termed an open position, such position Y being shown in Figure 3 in full lines and likewise in Figure 2 at 10, and they are laid in such' a manner that they do not extend up to the side walls as`11 and 12 ofthe car A, this spacing being illustrated at 18 inv Fig. 2. Vith the unit rack sections all open, as shown in Figure 2 at 10, the rack in through doorways and upon a smooth trucking surface such as shown at 10, and to place commodities such as shown at 17 upon the unit rack sections which have been placed in position. of service; thatis to say, so that there are channels as 15 between such sections. A single member, 18, has a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the rack sections when in inoperative position and a width corresponding in height to the two members a and b when the member Z) is restingupon top of the member a. These members18 are hingedly associated as at 19:with; the flooring 1. It .will be seen in Figure 2 that the member 18 at 20 has been revolved against the side 12 so as to form a space 21 between itself and the next adjacent unit rac section. shown. at 22. These members 18 likewise extend the length of the unit rack sections B shown at 5 and 9 in Figure 1.

Considerable dificulty is experienced when 'for any reason the flooring 4 should be uneven or should contain objects thereupon when the rack sections are inA inoperative position. It the means c should be rigidly associated with the members a and b ofthe unit rack sections B, any object under the member b would cause the unit Z) to be revolved slightly upwardly .with the result that any loadf imposed on such` member b by trucking thereover, would tend to strip the hinge connection between themembers af and Z) loosening the hinge from. such mem-V bers. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a loose pin connection between thev strap members joined to the sections a. and b so that the member b will be self-adjustable to accommodaterfor any unevenness of flooring or any objects upon the floor, without in any manner stripping the hinge connect-ion between the members c and b. It istobefurther noted that each oi. the unit rack sections are independently operable and only the number desired for a given purpose need be used, and that thestruct-.uii-x as Shown does not take up space within a car other thanwould be ordinarily taken up by any rack within such car when upon the flooring of such car. It is customary in certain known constructions to place the racks against the sidewalls of the car-when in inoperative position, but such a structure of necessity uses up valuable space in cars, whereas this structure does not. The means c for permitting loose or adjustable connection between the members of the unit rack sections includes a strap23 tor association with the member Z), such strap being provided with a pin engaging loop 24, such strap being secured to the member l), by means of screws 25 or other suitable securing elements, with a pin member 26 passed through the loop 24, and with twe legs ot such pin member as 27 and 28 passedthrough sockets 29 in a strap member 30 secured tothe member (t. The ends of the legs 27-28 are inturned as shown at 31., This structure permits the member Z) to be lifted upwardly untilv the iii/turned ends 31 engage the sockets 29 and stop upward movement. An idea ot the adjustment allowed is shown in Figure 3 in which it will be noted that the member o is not resting upon the flooring L1, but is slightly elevated therefrom without in any manner endangering the hinge connection. The strap 30 may be counter-sunk within the member a., as may likewise the strap 23 within the member b. The bevel edge 2 ot the member t, as shown in Figure 3 will cooperate with the bevel edge 1 of the ot the neXt unit rack section, as will be readily seen in theshowing of Figure 2. The mem ber maybet'ormed with a iingereengaging slot so that the same may-bereadily grasped to revolve-the member?) uponthe member a. A.member d approximately central of the car A extends the full lengthV of such car, andl said member has its edges beveled as shownV at 32 and 33, the said bevels corresponding to ther beveled portion of the members l).

In. the showing of Figure 5, which fig-ure illustrates the rack sections B, it is to Ybe noted that, as before, each unit rack section includes two members, asc and hingedly associated by the means c, but that the said: members t are .not secured to the flooringt. Arms e and are provided for the rack sections, andv saidi arms. are attachable. to the member a of such. units by' suitable means. such as shown' at 36 in. Fig. 5. The units a and I) arechanneled so that the` armsmay upon reception .within such channels permit the sections to lie liat upon the floorl'.. The terminal portions of the arms c and/i, as shown at 3-1 and35 are bentand received inA suitable grooves in the member CZ, andJ such terminal portions are provided with pin-receiving loops so that the iack sections B. may either be received upon thetlooror revolved upwardly into the position as illustrated at 38. The member may be. revolved upon the member a, as before, and. asshown in. Figure 5 at 37. rllhus it is possibleto lock the two sectionsupon oppo.- sitev sides of themember al in uprightfposi.- tion and sweep dbris from theA floor or fromibetween the channels between the rack sections B, out the doorway. The units a and ZJ of the rack sections B and B Vare all provided with flutes or channels, as shown at39-for the purpose ot' permitting. circulation under the rack sections andV likewise acting as a protection against warp ot the various sections.

It is obviousy that various changes and modiiications may be made in practicing the invention, in departure from the par-Q ticular showing of the drawing, without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention, .I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. Improvements in racks, including a unit rack section formed in two parts, there being a loose hinge connection between such parts, whereby the two parts of such unit rack section may lie in the same plane to present a smooth working surface or one of such parts moved to a plane parallel to the plane of the first member.

2. Improvements in racks, including a unit racl: section formed in two parts, there being a loose hinge connection between suoli parts; such parts being so formed as to cooperate when in one position to lie in the same plane.

3. Improvements in racks, including a unit rack section formed in two parts, there being a loose hinge connection between such parts; one edge of each part being beveled.

l. In car construction, a series of unit rack sections for placement in said car, each unit rack section comprising two members loosely connected together, whereby the two parts of such unit rack section may lie in the same plane to present a smooth working surface or one of such parts moved to a plane parallel to the plane of the first member.

5. In car construction, a series of unit rack sections for placement in said car, each unit rack section comprising two members loosely connected together; such car being formed with the usual flooring and one member of each unit rack section being secured to such flooring.

6. In car construction, a series of unit rack sections for placement in said car, each unit rack section comprising two members loosely connected together; such car being formed with the usual flooring and one member of each unit rack section being secured to such flooring; such unit rack sections cooperating to provide a smooth floor.- ing when such unit rack sections are in one position.

7. In car construction, a series of unit rack sections for placement in said car, each unit rack section comprising two members loosely connected together such car being formed with the usual flooring, and one member of each unit rack section being secured to such flooring; such unit rack sections cooperating to provide a smooth flooring when such unit rack sections are in one position; each unit rack section being independently operable.

8. Improvements in racks, including a series of unit rack sections, each section being formed in two parts, such uni't rack sections when lying in one plane presenting a smooth working surface, and each unit rack section being independently operable to move one of such parts to a plane parallel to the plane of the first part; an arm member, and one of such partsof each unit rack section being attached to such arm member.

9. Improvements in racks, including a series of unit rack sections, each section being formed in two parts, such unit rack sections when lying in one plane presenting a smooth working surface, and each unit rack section being independently operable to move one of such parts to a plane parallel to the plane of the first part; an arm member, and one of such parts of each unit rack section being attached to such arm member; in combination with the flooring of a car, there being means for pivota-lly associating the arm member with such flooring, and whereby the rack sections may either lie upon such flooring or be moved from such flooring upon movement of the arm member.

l0. The combination with a car having the usual Hooring, Side wall members with doorways in said side wall members, of a series of cooperating unit rack sections for longitudinal placementA upon the flooring of such car and extending from the doorway to an end of such car; each of such unit rack sections comprising two members loosely hinged together; such unit rack sections when lying in one plane presenting a smooth working surface, and each unit rack section being independently operable to move one of such members to a plane parallel to the plane of the first member.

ll. The combination with a` car having the usual flooring, side wall members with doorways in said side wall members, of a series of cooperating unit rack sections for longitudinal placement upon the flooring of such ear and extending from the doorway to an end of such car; each ofsuch unit rack sections comprising two members loosely hinged together; there being a member extending the full length of the car and located centrally of the car, and unit rack sections for placement between the doorways of such car.

l2. The combination with a car having the usual fiooring, side wall members with doorways in said side wall members, of a series of cooperating unit rack sections for longitudinal placement upon the flooring of such car and extending from the doorway to ends of such car; each of such unit rack sections comprising two members loosely hinged together; there being a member extending the full length of the car and located centrally of the car, and unit rack sections for placement between the doorways of such car; such latter unit rack sections being so formed as to permit the same to be lifted from the floor.

13. The combination with a car having the usual flooring, side wall members with doorways in said side wall members, lof a series of cooperating unit rack sections for longitudinal placement upon the flooringy of such car and extending from the doorway to an end of such car; each of suchy unit rack sections comprising two members loosely hinged together; there beinga member extending `the full length of the car and-located centrally of the car, and unit rack sections for placement between the doorways of such car; there being arm'membe'rs pivotally associated with the member extending the length of the car and unit rack sections lbetween the doorways of such car and attached `to such arm members.

14. The combination with a car having the usual flooring, side wall members with doorways in said side wall members, of a series of cooperating unit rack sections 'for longitudinal placement upon the flooring of such car and -extending from thel doorway to ends of such cargeach of such unit rack sectionsvcomprising two members loosely hinged together; there being a member extending the full length of the car and located centrally of the car, and unit rack sections for placement between the door ways of such car; there being arm members pivotally associated with the member extending the length of the car and unit rack sections between the doorways of such car and attached to such varm members; such arm members permitting the unit rack sections to be lifted from Athe loorv when the:

y HARRY M. HAUN, lVitnesses T. G. DEVEESE, BILLIE VARREN YA'rEs.' 

